and who hath herein given us an example that we should follow his steps; and affure yourselves that "if ye fuffer with him on earth, ye shall also reign with him in heaven."

Christians,

Christians, Sons of God.

I JOHN iii. 2, 3.

Beloved, now are we the fons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear

fhall be like him, for we fhall fee him as he is; and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

ALL mankind are the rational offspring of God, are formed by his hand, and bear his image. They may, therefore, with the strictest propriety, be styled his children; and there is not a more natural,

just,

juft, or pleafing light, in which we can confider the Almighty, than as the Father of all men. Thofe, however, who enjoy the distinguished bleflings of the gofpel, are in a more especial and particular manner entitled to the character of fons of God. In the language of scripture all thofe whom God brings into a state of peculiar honour and advantage, and diftinguishes by extraordinary bleffings, are his fons. Thus Chrift was called the Son of God as being appointed to be the inftrument of conveying the most important bleffings to mankind, and to be the Saviour of the world. And all his difciples, who are delivered from ignorance and vice, and brought into a state of light and moral freedom by his gofpel, are faid to be the children of God. This is the relation and character of chriftians in general, as they are a fociety of men, profeffing their faith in Chrift, and enjoying the privileges of his gofpel, the promife of the remiffion of fins, and the hope Dd

VOL. II.

of

of everlasting life. They are all the fons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. But though mankind in general, confidered as the rational offspring of God, may juftly be ftyled his children; and though chriftians, as a felect body, enjoying peculiar privileges under the government of Chrift, are the fons of God, yet those only are fo, in the moft ftrict and perfect fenfe, who act agreeably to their heavenly extraction and chriftian privileges, by the fteady practice of virtue, and an uniform obedience to the will of God. Thofe who walk worthy of the vocation with which they are called, who in proportion to their advantages abound in all the fruits of righ teoufuefs, who faithfully obey the commands, and carefully imitate the example, of their divine mafter, and who are a peculiar people zealous of good works; are indeed the fons of God, the children of the Moft High. Their behaviour is fuitable to their high original, their diftinguished, honours, and their heavenly

hopes.

hopes. They are the peculiar charge of divine Providence in this life, and they will be finally acknowledged and received as the children of God, and dwell in his heavenly kingdom for ever. Behold, fellow-chriftians, what manner of love our heavenly Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called in this diftinguished and exalted sense, the fons of God. Contemplate with admiration and joy the unfpeakable condefcenfion and kindness of the ever bleffed God, the maker and poffeffor of heaven and earth, who cannot be profited by us or any of our fervices, in adopting us as, in a peculiar fense, his fons, taking us into his family, and making us heirs of eternal life. At the fame time let it not be forgotten that the relation in which we ftand to God as his fons, requires on our part love, obedience, and confidence. Whom ought we to love if not our kind and merciful Father in heaven, who is himself infinitely amiable and excellent, and who is the founDd 2

tain